Bill Schopf's Baltimore & Lehigh RR: Layout Tour
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- Welcome to our first layout tour! I was invited to visit Bill Schopf's Baltimore & Lehigh RR. This is a gorgeous layout located in Bill's attic room and modeling a fictitious Anthracite coal hauling railroad in the late 1940's. Below are details on the layout, as described by Bill himself:
Baltimore and Lehigh ... a hard-scrabble small anthracite road trying desperately to survive the decline of the anthracite coal industry.
Period: Generally post World War II ... late 1940s to 1952 ... specifically mid-October 1948
Concept: Fictional, freelanced layout set in eastern Pa. anthracite country east of Pottsville, south of Wilkes Barre, north of Reading. It interchanges with the Reading RR to the south at Reading, PA, the Lehigh Valley to the north at Wilkes Barre, PA and the PRR to the west at Pottsville, PA. The Baltimore and Lehigh, LV, Reading and PRR share trackage rights. Trackage rights on the Reading RR extend to Shippensburg, PA where the Reading interchanges with the Western Maryland. The Baltimore and Lehigh and WM share trackage rights from Shippensburg to Baltimore. Thus, power from the B&O, WM, PRR, RDG and LV often appear on the layout as well as occasional power from nearby anthracite roads such as CNJ, D&H and Erie.
Layout as it now exists as has been a major work in progress for last ten years. The first structures were built in late 1970s; most of the structures now on the layout have been built in the last 5 years.
Operating sessions: Works best with 4 crews --- 2 road crews, one crew for the large Diamond yard and one for the Sinking Creek coal branch. Space limitations in the room make more than 4 crews not manageable.
Operational design: Layout was built primarily with scenery and buildings in mind as a detailed locale for trains to run through. Operations were an afterthought until about 30 months ago, but luckily the railroad was built largely as a switching layout with 2 large yards, one medium-sized stub-ended yard and two smaller stub-ended yards. Simply put, it is a large switching layout with interchanges.
A more practical, usable staging to represent Reading and Wilkes Barre is now under serious planning and planned renovation.
Many thanks to Bill for his invitation and outstanding tour and hospitality! It was a true pleasure to visit Bill's layout. I was even lucky enough to be invited back for a future operating session!
We hope to be able to bring more local NW Pennsylvania layout tours to you in the future.
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beautiful layout...so much scenery in a small space...thank you so much for letting us tour your layout Bill
I love freelanced layouts. I feel they give you more freedom to do what YOU want, without feeling like your "cheating", not staying true to prototype. And this layout shows what can be done when you have free reign. Love all the coal everywhere! Hats off to Bill, and great videography Rob.
Can't stop watching these videos. This is an art for sure.
Great layout Bill,many thanks for letting Rob video tape it. Fantastic work with the camera Rob.
wow! what I love about this layout is how well he utilizes space not necessarily horizontally but vertically! so many tall buildings, hills, trees, and just layer upon layer of detail going up!
Two Master Modelers and a Master Videographer in action here. Beautiful layout Bill.
I'm sure I'm not the only person this side of the pond who finds your videos so informative and well produced. I particularly love the layouts and scenics. I know how I will be spending these coming British winter nights. Keep 'em coming Stephen! Terry
That is one beautiful layout. Master craftsman! Very stunning.
nice tour. whole lot of railroad in a compact space. detail is unbelievable. bill got skills.
I grew up in and around the PA anthracite region, and Bill nails it with the breakers and overall look. Amazing work with paper structures. Having been there, the layout looks even better in person!
My hats off to Bill ! Outstanding layout and the attention to detail.. he is a true artist.. thanks for sharing and keep up the great work.. Lance 🚂👍👍👍
WOW! Amazing layout! Wonderful detail!!! Really enjoyed seeing this!
Well done layout tour. The layout is more detailed than the video shows, including lots of WW2 era signs, kids playing football, a prison gang at work and lots of appropriately posed figures.
I have been fortunate to have been invited to a few operating sessions. The local switching jobs will keep you thinking and the road freights give you a grand tour.
Thank you Bill.
The attention to detail is absolutel staggering and must have taken ages. Very difficult to spot the join between actual and reality, superb.
Really cool, keep the tours coming as you're able. Truly enjoyed it. Thanks
Sweet layout! My hat is off to Bill! Great job on the videography as always Rob! John
JL&SH
very nice great job and thank you for showing your work
Absolutely Brilliant! that is an inspired modeler beautiful work, great video!
Awesome Layout, thanks for the tour!
Stunning! Thanks for sharing.
Rob ty for another great Video.I really enjoy what you put out.
Wonderful layout.
Fantastic railroad:) but damn I got "black lung" just watching this:) LOL . WOW!! fantastic detail and craftsmanship:)
Very nice!! What a fun visit....
Great video - nicely shot and well narrated. Terrific layout - love the Lehigh Valley and surrounding geography/geology.
Uncommonly well done video, thanks. I've operated on Bill's layout numerous times and it's even more amazing in person. Looking forward to the next session Bill.
Thanks, Scott. Hopefully late in August.
Great video ! Really amazing layout ! Very nice ! Thanks for sharing ! martin
i love a good tour, thanks!
...some awesome scratch building.
Great looking coal hauling layout!
Thanks beautiful layout
Great layout and excellent video, thanks guys
Well filmed with great coal scenes
Great layout
Awesome layout and a great video presentation!
amazing amazing layout would love to see more of the passenger stations on your and on the layout that you film it'd be nice to see besides that perfect video
Fantastic layout
The level of detail is fantastic! Like living in a dream world of the past. Tour is nice but what I'd give to see it close up.
How close do you live to northwestern Pennsylvania? Bill S
@@bschopf1 Albuquerque, NM. 😒
A bit far, I'd say, to come see a model railroad!! Thanks for the compliments, though. I appreciate them. Have fun with your own railroad. Bill S
Stunning layout.
Amazing layout and fantastic videography and narration Rob!!! I have given some thought to creating the Florida Coal Company Railroad. There never has been any coal in Florida, but if there ever was... I am already planning on modeling CSX and their heritage units. CSX doesn't really have any true heritage units, but if they did... Anyway, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Dan
Nice
Beautiful layout!!.. would look great with some steam on it.
Steam is coming. Thanks for the input.
THANKS VIDEO ON FRIENDS LAYOUT AS HAVE GREAT DETAIL AS WELL LOT SMALL DETAIL PLANING GONE INTO LAYOUT OPERATION . THANKS YOU.
Wow! How long did it take Bill to build this fantastic layout? Thanks for sharing guys!
Attention to details is fantastic - very similar to your own model work. Brother from another mother?
I might be asking before you answer, but I gotta ask while I am thinking about it.
I noticed he had track lighting? you don't happen to know what type of bulbs he had in them? that light was perfect!
Bill did mention that, I forgot to include it- they are 4000K LEDs.
Amazing Layout,How awesome would it be if he had smoke units in the ground in Centralia for the coal fires !!
What a great idea!!! Think I could do it without burning down the house? I'll have to think how to pull that off. That would be the ultimate realism. Thanks for the comment. Bill Schopf
@@bschopf1 ,Yes Bill,It is absolutley do-able,I did something similar on my families hobby shop layout with a crashed UFO and I ran Smoke units in the homosote board to represent Smouldering Debris,It looked Awesome
Youve definaltely "Nailed" the look of Centralia with the dead trees My Friend
@@sawgunn69 Might be able to do that with mine. I have a base of homosote to work with as well. What did you use for smoke units?
@@bschopf1 ,Seuthe smoke units
giving this a thumbs down because this fine railroad is not located at my house, I double checked to make sure and nope, its not here. just kidding, I don't have any thumbs but seriously, this isn't at my house though